Unit-1: Understanding APIs in Cloud Computing

What is the role of APIs in cloud computing?

• APIs facilitate communication and integration between applications and cloud services.

• APIs are only relevant for on-premises applications.

• APIs eliminate the need for cloud services altogether.

• APIs are used solely for data storage in the cloud.

Name three types of APIs commonly used in web services.

• XML-RPC

• gRPC

• WebSockets

• REST, SOAP, GraphQL

What does REST stand for in RESTful APIs?

• Remote Endpoint Service Technology

• Representational State Transfer

• Resource Exchange and Storage Transfer

• Rapid Event Stream Transmission

How does SOAP differ from RESTful APIs?

• SOAP uses JSON for messaging and is more flexible than REST.

• REST is a protocol with strict standards and XML messaging, while SOAP is an architectural style.

• SOAP can return various data formats, while REST only uses XML.

• SOAP is a protocol with strict standards and XML messaging, while REST is an architectural style using standard HTTP methods and can return various data formats.

What is GraphQL and how does it function?

• GraphQL is a query language for APIs that allows clients to request specific data structures, improving efficiency and flexibility in data retrieval.

• GraphQL is a markup language used for designing user interfaces.

• GraphQL is a programming language for building web applications.

• GraphQL is a database management system that stores data in tables.

Describe the main components of API architecture.

• API documentation, user interface, server load balancer, and network protocols.

• Client-side scripts, web browsers, operating systems, and hardware components.

• The main components of API architecture are API gateway, backend services, data storage, and client applications.

• Data encryption, user authentication, network security, and performance metrics.

What are the principles of good API design?

• Consistency, simplicity, usability, versioning, and proper documentation.

• Complexity, ambiguity, and lack of documentation.

• Inconsistency, poor usability, and no versioning.

• Overly detailed documentation and rigid structure.

List two best practices for designing RESTful APIs.

• Use only GET method for all operations.

• Ignore versioning in API design.

• Design URLs based on user preferences instead of resources.

• 1. Use appropriate HTTP methods (GET, POST, PUT, DELETE) for CRUD operations. 2. Design resource-oriented URLs that reflect the hierarchy and relationships of resources.

Why is API versioning important?

• API versioning is irrelevant for internal APIs.

• API versioning complicates the development process unnecessarily.

• API versioning is crucial for maintaining compatibility and enabling updates without disrupting existing users.

• API versioning is only necessary for large companies.

What is backward compatibility in the context of APIs?

• Backward compatibility is the process of removing outdated features from APIs.

• Backward compatibility allows APIs to change their core functionality.

• Backward compatibility allows newer API versions to support older clients.

• Backward compatibility means older API versions can support newer clients.